By Shelly Leibowitz
Grooming your dog for good health
Grooming isn’t just about looks; careful attention to canine cleanliness is a vital part of keeping your dog healthy. The most important things to keep in mind when grooming your dog for health are its coat, ears, and nails.
Coat
It is critical that dogs with longer hair are brushed regularly. The longer the hair, the more quickly it will mat. Matted hair can cause extensive skin irritation and, if bad enough, will stymie a comb and need to be shaved. But as long as you are brushing the dog regularly — either by yourself or by having a groomer do it — this shouldn’t be a problem.
Bathing is very important for dogs with every length of hair. Try to give your dog a bath once every month or two, more frequently if they’re particularly prone to making a mess; everyone knows a dog that likes to play in the mud. But, keep in mind that it is important not to bathe your pet too frequently as it can wash away the animal’s vital natural oils and dry out the skin.
Ears
Owners often overlook ears, but they are essential in the grooming process. It is important that ears are cleaned regularly because dirty ears cause ear infections (which are quite painful for the dog and not cheap for the owner). Dogs with floppy ears are more prone to ear infection because a lack of airflow causes moisture to accumulate, and moisture can exacerbate infection.
Nails
Nails require more maintenance than the coat and ears. Dogs are just as uncomfortable having long toenails as you are. The difficulty with dog nails is the “quick,” a tender bit where the dog’s nail ends and the skin begins. You want to trim down to the quick but don’t cut it — it is full of nerves. Instead of using clippers, try grinding the nails. This will trim the nails without damaging the quick and ensure that the nails are nice and flat. If you do go the clipping route, make sure to walk your dog on a cement surface afterward so the ends of the nails get evened out.
Start grooming early, that way your dog will grow acclimated to the process, and if you’re lucky, even look forward to it! A clean dog is a healthy dog, and a healthy dog is a happy dog!
Shelly Leibowitz has been training dogs in obedience, Schutzhund competition, and drug and explosives tracking for more than 40 years. He is the owner of Shelly’s School for Dogs, and recently opened The Green Leaf Pet Resort & Hotel in Millstone, New Jersey.

